Monday, July 23, 2012

Airlines Get More Tools to Stop Bogus Service Animals from Flying in Cabins

Additional Notes: In the Federal Register of Monday, December 7, 2015, the Department of Transportation published a notice of intent, indicating that it "is exploring the feasibility of conducting a negotiated rulemaking (Reg Neg) concerning accommodations for air travelers with disabilities addressing ... service animals." Among other interested parties that DOT wants to hear from are "service animal training organizations."

The release notes that both "airlines and disability organizations have raised concerns with the Department of passengers falsely claiming that their pets are service animals." The difference between the Department of Justice definition of "service animal" and DOT's definition has been brought to the DOT's attention, and DOT may, in the "Reg Neg," determine the appropriate definition of service animal...." Additional safeguards may be instituted "to reduce the likelihood that passengers wishing to travel with their pets will be able to falsely claim that their pets are service animals...."

DOT also notes that bulkhead seating is sometimes not available to individuals with service animals because "bulkhead seats are now primarily located in what has been designated by airlines as the premium economy section." Comments on these issues may, according to the release, be submitted on the www.regulations.gov website by typing in DOT-OST-2015-0246. Department of Transportation, RIN 2105-AE12, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel; Consideration of Negotiated Rulemaking Process. 80 Fed. Reg. 75953 (December 7, 2015).

Regulations issued in August 2015 by the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding animal access to VA facilities will affect letters that psychologists and mental health professionals may be asked to write for veterans with service dogs. As those regulations apply to visitors to and employees of VA facilities who may not themselves be veterans, people in these categories may also ask that letters be written on their behalf.

The
article I wrote with Dr. Thomas, which discusses letters that may be
requested by airlines, landlords and others appears in the March 2013
issue of the Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice is substantially more comprehensive than the following treatment.

Writing Letters about Service Dogs

Dr. J. Lawrence Thomas and I have submitted comments to the Department of Transportation regarding the Draft Technical Assistance Manual. The American Psychiatric Association and Anne Wicklund have also submitted insightful comments. To view comments online go to the regulations.gov website for this item and click on the box left of "Public Submission" below Document Type on the left.

The Department of Transportation is updating its Technical Assistance Manual, What Airline Employees, Airline Contractors, and Air Travelers With Disabilities Need To Know About Access to Air Travel for Persons With Disabilities. The Manual, which is a guide to the Air Carrier Access Act, is being revised to cover changes that have been made to ACAA regulations since 2005, when the previous edition of the Manual was released. The 2012 revision follows the pattern of the 2005 Manual in breaking down a trip from the point a person with a disability makes a reservation through the completion of travel.

Although there is little new in the revised Manual, it is important that individuals traveling with service animals—particularly those traveling with emotional support or psychiatric service animals—be familiar with its contents since airline personnel will refer to it, rather than the regulations, in trying to resolve disputes involving passengers who are insisting on bringing animals aboard planes.

Letters from Mental Health Professionals

Psychologists, other mental health professionals, and medical doctors should also be aware that the Manual contains requirements regarding letters that they may provide to patients who have service animals. A support letter must now be on the professional’s office stationery and must provide information about the professional’s license. DOT is clearly concerned that medical professionals are signing letters written for them by patients without really knowing anything about the supposed service animal or its benefits for a patient. Also, veterinarians should be aware that they are likely to be asked to write letters saying an animal will not need to relieve itself for eight hours.

DOT is issuing the Manual in draft form in order that those affected or interested may have a chance to comment on the revision. Comments must be sent to DOT by October 3, 2012, though late submission will be considered “to the extent practicable.” As the 2005 Manual was covered extensively in Service and Therapy Animals in American Society, I will focus here primarily on how DOT plans to change the Manual.

Comments on the draft Manual may be submitted at www.regulations.gov, which is a user friendly website hosted by the federal government. In the search box on the first page I typed in “airline disability service animal,” and the first hit was the one about which I am writing here. To submit a comment, just hit the “Comment Now” box in the upper right, and a comment box with submitter information appears. Comments submitted will be available on the site to the general public.

Definition of Service Animal

In 2005, the Manual’s initial description of a service animal was: “Any animal that is individually trained or able to provide assistance to a qualified person with a disability or any animal shown by documentation to be necessary for the emotional wellbeing of a passenger.”

The proposed revision (77 Fed. Reg. 39800, July 5, 2012) would state that a service animal is: “Any animal that is individually trained or able to provide assistance to a qualified person with a disability or any animal shown by documentation to be necessary to support a passenger with an emotional or mental disability.” The difference is significant in that the earlier definition implied that a person without an emotional or mental disability could have a service animal for his or her emotional wellbeing.

How Service Animals May Assist

The 2005 Manual provided that a service animal may assist “persons with mobility impairments with balance.” The revision is more specific, stating that a service animal may assist “persons with mobility impairments to open and close doors, retrieve objects, transfer from one seat to another, and maintain balance.” This more correctly describes some of the tasks a mobility impairment animal may perform. People with mobility impairment dogs that perform other tasks for them, but not one of the listed ones, should consider letting DOT know in the comment period. DOT will probably not resist expanding such a list.

The revision would add a new task to the assistance list: “Carrying items a passenger cannot readily carry while using his or her wheelchair.”

Consistent with the change in the basic definition of “service animal” in the preceding section, the revision says that a service animal may provide “support for persons with emotional or mental disabilities.” In 2005, the Manual had stated that a service animal may provide “emotional support for persons with disabilities.” Again, the change effectively states that a person with a physical but not a mental or emotional disability cannot have a dog only for his or her emotional wellbeing.

Advance Notice of Intent to Fly with Service Animal

The 2012 revision states that an air carrier my require up to 48 hours’ advance notice from a passenger who will travel with an emotional support or psychiatric service animal in the cabin, or with “any service animal on a flight segment scheduled to take 8 hours or more.”

Further, the revision states that for a flight scheduled for eight hours or more, “you may require documentation that the service animal will not need to relieve itself on the flight or can do so in a way that will not create a health or sanitation issue on the flight.” Veterinarians can expect to be asked to write some rather silly letters because of this provision. Presumably a letter could state something like the following:

“If Passenger A is able to take his Service Dog a relief area before a flight, and if Service Dog B relieves himself [herself] at that time, Service Dog B would ordinarily be able to make an 8 hour flight (including time at the gate and on the tarmac) without relieving himself [herself]. If a flight has several segments and Passenger A can take Service Dog B to relief areas at intermediary airports, Service Dog B would ordinarily be able to make a multi-stage flight without relieving himself [herself] in flight. These statements assume that Service Dog B does not become sick before or during a flight and does not eat food not standardly provided to him [her]."

A source advises me that one airline was actually considering a requirement that users of service animals carry doggy diapers. From what I saw on a recent trip to Ireland, airlines might better spend their energy requiring that some passengers wear diapers, if not HAZMAT suits.

Verification of Psychiatric Service or Emotional Support Animal Status

A carrier’s ability to check service animal status has changed from the prior Manual. For passengers traveling with emotional support or psychiatric service animals, carriers may require documentation, not less than a year old, on the letterhead of a licensed mental health profession or medical doctor who is treating the passenger’s mental or emotional disability, stating:

The passenger has a recognized mental or emotional disability (under DSM IV);

The passenger needs the service animal as an accommodation for air travel and/or activity at the passenger’s destination;

The provider of the letter is a licensed mental health professional, or a licensed medical professional treating the individual for the recognized mental or emotional disability, and the passenger is under the individual’s professional care; and

The date and type of mental health professional’s license and the state or other jurisdiction in which the license was issued.

The specific DSM condition need not be stated. The letter may be written by a psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed clinical social worker, including a medical doctor specifically treating the passenger’s mental or emotional disability. The items are cumulative and can all be required. The italicized language contains new elements of what a carrier may require.

Previously there was no mention of the documentation being on the professional’s letterhead (except in regulations). Presumably this is a way of avoiding passengers asking their doctors to sign boiler plate documents downloaded and printed from websites. The date and type of professional license is also a new requirement that will assure that professionals realize that airlines may want to contact them or their professional licensing boards.

When an airline might contact a licensing board is not clear. If a psychologist recommends that a patient obtain a service animal, it is not the psychologist’s fault if the animal obtained is not actually a service animal. If, on the other hand, the psychologist says things about the animal that are inconsistent with what airline personnel observe, the airline may wonder if the psychologist is acting professionally or really wrote the letter. Also, if the airline keeps records about professionals who recommend service animals, the airline may notice that a particular medical professional is recommending a great number of service animals. The airline might contact the licensing authority to ask if this is typical of members of the profession they license.

Determination that an Animal is Not a Service Animal

The revised Manual states that if a carrier decides not to accept an animal as a service animal, it must explain the reason to the passenger and document its decision in writing. A copy of the explanation is to be provided to the passenger at the airport, or within ten calendar days of the event.

Changing Seats if a Service Animal Does Not Fit

The 2005 Manual said that switching seats in the same class of service must be explored as an alternative before requiring that the service animal travel in the cargo compartment.” The revision gives more detailed advice to flight personnel:

“You should speak with other passengers to find a passenger—(1) Seated in an adjacent seat who is willing to share foot space with the animal, or (2) Who is willing to exchange seats with the passenger accompanying the service animal and is seated in a seat adjacent to—(a) A location where the service animal can be accommodated (for example, in the space behind the last row of seats) or (b) An empty seat. You must not deny a passenger with a disability transportation on the basis that the service animal may offend or annoy persons traveling on the aircraft.”

The italicized language is particularly important and reflects the fact that fines have been levied against airlines that have excluded legitimate service animals because airline gate personnel or flight attendants became overly accommodating to passengers with cultural or religious biases against animals. There is an entire appendix to the Manual concerning placement of service animals in airline cabins.

Relief Areas

The 2005 Manual made no mention of relief areas for service animals. The revised Manual summarizes requirements on carriers with regard to relief areas. This has been summarized in a prior blog.

Conclusion

The Manual in general reflects an increasing recognition that people wanting to fly with their pets are trying to create evidence that those pets are psychiatric service or emotional support animals, getting bogus documents from online sites that sell paraphernalia purporting to establish a dog as a bona fide service animal. Also, psychologists and doctors must pay more attention to the letters they put on their stationery regarding their patients’ animals, since DOT may actually complain to licensing authorities when animals turn out to be out-of-control house pets that passengers just don’t want to put in steerage. Professionals should be able to back up what they are signing for their patients.

Users of psychiatric service animals have argued to DOT officials that psychiatric service animals should be treated the same as other service animals, and distinguished from emotional support animals, but DOT has not accepted this argument. The distinction is an important one in Department of Justice regulations, but DOT feels that the advance notice requirement should apply to both psychiatric service and emotional support animals. The airlines should at least have enough advance notice that they can advise passengers who will be bringing psychiatric service animals on flights of the documentation they should have when they get to the gate.

11 comments:

Thanks for the great synopsis. I was sad to see that you didn't make mention of the pot-bellied pig example in the new manual, though. Also, you may find it amusing to know that SkyMall (AKA the 'magazine' that can be found in the seat back pouches that sells high-ticket items nobody knew they needed) recently started offering a vest and ID package - including ALL of the info a person might need in order to fraudulently claim their dog as a service dog - all for the low, low price of $150-$200 (depending on the size of vest needed)!!! How fascinating that the very airlines who are so upset about frauds and fakers are putting all of the enabling info right onto their own planes.

I think a lot of this may be confusing for some, since some recommendations for Emotional Support Animals (ESA) and Service Dogs (SD) are completely different when it comes to what is needed to fly.

Under "Verification of Service Animal Status" you stated a letter needed to be provided by "licensed mental health profession or medical doctor who is treating the passenger’s mental or emotional disability". This is the requirement for ESA's NOT Service dogs, since service dogs are usually for disabled persons with physical disabilities (although they can help those with mental disabilities). In this section, the distinction between ESA's - which have NO protection under ADA law, and Service Dogs - which do have protection under ADA law - needs to be established.

I have flown with my Service Dog numerous times and, while I have had my share of incidents with airline personnel ignorant of Service Dog laws, and the difference between ESA's and Psychiatric Service animals, I have never been denied boarding. More than once I've seen people sneak obvious pets onboard wearing Service Dog Vests and, even more shamefully, people with show dogs. The airline needs to know that, to even HAVE a service dog, the handler MUST be Disabled. If they knew that one fact, they could have turned away most of the fakers.

Keep up the good work. I recommend this site to a lot of people with questions about service dogs.

As someone with a service dog, you should be more sensitive to the variety of service dogs out there as well as the conditions that require them. I myself have a seizure alert dog, prescribed by my doctor, whose only medical function is to alert me when I'm about to have an attack so that I can medicate myself in time. He isn't trained to guide me, physically support me, etc, because I don't require assistance with those functions, and yet he is vital to my ability to function. When I travel with him I'm sure many people assume I'm a faker, since my disability isn't obvious and my dog is a 30lbs mutt who isn't always perfectly behaved in the way a guide dog may be.

1st of all ADA Law states that the dog must have training to included obedience. Therefore, all medically prescribed dogs should be trained no matter what they have been prescribed for! (Ex. Seizire Alert dog, PTSD Dog, Cancer Dog, Diabeties alert dog, etc..) Any dog that is out of control or behaving badly will not be recognised by ADA law, whether you have a precription letter from your doctor. So take a obedience classes, Canine Good Citizens class and take and pass the test...then 1000 hrs of public access and that test! This should take about a year to accomplish. I know this as I am disabled and a dog trainer who works with the disabled.

Also Service dogs are not just for people with physical disabilities as not all physical disabilities are visible!!!!

Raven: Thank you for your comment. As to the first point, you are correct that I did not make this as clear as I should have. The proposed revision of the Manual specifically states that “carriers also may require that passengers traveling with emotional support or psychiatric service animals present current documentation … on the letterhead of a licensed mental health professional….” As I note in an earlier section of the blog on the definition of service animal, the definition was changed to clarify that a person without an emotional or mental disability, but with a physical disability, could not satisfy the access requirements for either a psychiatric service or emotional support animal. I have revised the heading to which you refer and the second sentence under the heading to clarify that the letter requirement does not apply to service animals for individuals with physical disabilities.

I had not heard about the show dogs wearing service dog vests, though I have certainly heard of bogus vests.

You are correct to emphasize the issue of the type of disability. I was contacted by someone who had inherited a legitimate service animal from a hearing-impaired aunt who had died. The animal was old and he intended to keep it. He assumed that because it was a service animal, he could fly with it. He, however, has no disability and it is the individual’s disability that creates the access right. Not the animal’s training. Although I doubt he will have any problem getting such a well-trained animal onto an airplane—at least as long as he does not announce that his hearing is perfectly fine—it is not a situation covered by the access rules.

As to the prior comment about service pot-bellied pigs, this was a source of amusement and led to a number of comments about the proposed revision, the example of a pot-bellied pig as a service animal was contained in the 2005 version of the Manual. 70 Fed. Reg. 41492 (July 19, 2005) I focused my comments only on proposed revisions to the 2005 Manual. – John

Well, there are a lot of people that are disabled due to illness but they don't look sick. I for one am one of them so people should not assume that just because someone looks fine they may be faking the Service Dog. I may look fine but I deal with a lot of fatigue, dizziness and constant pain.

I totally agree with you. I'm 100% veteran with liver disease and RA. I am also under the care of VA psychiatric and psychological physicians. I have to use a cane to assist me in getting around and even though I use a cane I am very prone to taking a fall due to very bad knee and back. I have had chronic pain for longer than I care to discuss. Five reconstructive back surgeries. I have dealt with the fact that I haven't had a complete pain free day for close to forty years. With both physical and psychological marks, I now have a Labrador, (98 lbs) That helps my balance by walking where his trunk is in contact with my left leg. If I should fall Rowdy immediately go to the. down position close to me. If I am unable to reach my cane He will bring it to me go to down position. As I am getting back to my feet, I use his back to assist me in getting to my feet. When I am in position to to start rising, Rowdy goes to a very rigid foundation which greatly helps me to get upright. He sleeps with me every night and I talk to him like I'd talk to my brother. Only difference is he doesn't talk back in English. I believe he understands me by the way he cocks his head and belly crawls to get as close to me as possible. He is a smart Lab, but I think his strong bond to me is helping me to deal with everyday ups and downs. Rowdy is 2 1/2 and Zeppelin, my 7 yr. lab(both yellow) and 13 yr,. old pit bull, Jake, has raised Zeppelin and now I get to see Zep raise Rowdy. (couldn't think of a word other than raise) All are neutered and no blood while sparring. Just won't happen. Some may doubt what I experience with 3 male dogs(one being a pit bull terrier) this just solidifies the fact that no breed of canines are born vicious. Stupid (expletive x 2) humans do that. I'm still here because of my dogs love for me and I for them. Sorry for the rant. I just had to express my feelings about the topic. My opinion is that I'm one lucky soul to have a service/therapy (or companion:)) and a hunter and just an amazing pit bull. I am loved for sure and I win every argument. (Have to keep a sense of humor, love God in your own faith, and get a dog) 2 is good, 3 is better! Should I publish this book? :) Sorry ! One more word to ask about our brave military men and women are returning home paraplegic and PTSD and worse.It is a no brainer. If the dog is capable of making our disabled and sick with severe depression and other ailments, let Vet have it. May not heal physical disabilities but would go a long way towards healing of their souls. We owe it to them to do everything we can to help these heroes. Our country has come a long way since the Viet Nam era. Appreciate all that we have and have canine companions instead of having them on the menu. Off subject! I think I'm gonna write a book if I could keep it on the subject. :) Typing my thoughts about service and therapy dogs has made me feel like hugging my Three Stooges.Goodnight and Pray for peace! Simper Fi

ESAs are not required to have any kind of specialized training or experience. Moreover, Emotional Support Animal Letters isn’t limited to just companion dogs. People have used emotional support cats, horses as Emotional Support Animals.

ESAs are not required to have any kind of specialized training or experience. Moreover, Emotional Support Animal Letters isn’t limited to just companion dogs. People have used emotional support cats, horses as Emotional Support Animals.

ESAs are not required to have any kind of specialized training or experience. Moreover, Emotional Support Animal Letters isn’t limited to just companion dogs. People have used emotional support cats, horses as Emotional Support Animals.

Novel About the First-Century Jewish Revolt Against Rome, edited by John Ensminger

Jacob Watts was a theologian, a distant relative on my mother's side who died while on a missionary assignment in India. Editing this book has been a long-term project. I can take credit for the maps, which show military actions for each year of the revolt that led to the destruction of the Jerusalem temple.

Novel About Rome in the Time of Nero, edited by John Ensminger

Four hundred slaves executed for a crime only one planned and committed, massive gladiatorial reenactments of famous battles, the great fire of Rome, murderous intrigue in the court of Nero, armies in revolt, astrologers who can change a person’s fate, the trial of St. Paul before the emperor—the reign of Nero was full of cinematic violence and color. Yet this is not a dress ball with modern characters who happen to wear tunics and togas. The power of the novel lies in the fact that as readers we enter the ancient mind at a time of social upheaval and religious transformation, bringing changes that echo across the centuries and become strangely relevant to events occurring in the world today.

Treatise on Money Laundering, Terrorism and Financial Institutions

John Ensminger is an attorney and member of the bars of the State of New York and the United States Supreme Court. He is the co-editor of Canine Olfaction Science and Law: Advances in Forensic Science, Medicine, Conservation, and Environmental Remediation. His other books include Police and Military Dogs: Criminal Detection, Forensic Evidence and Judicial Admissibility and Service and Therapy Dogs in American Society. His articles on legal and scientific issues have appeared in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Forensic Science International, Journal of Forensic Sciences, Journal of Animal and Natural Resource Law, Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Journal of Animal Law, ABA General Practice, Tax Notes, and the Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice. John is a Contributing Editor of the Animal Legal & Historical Center of the Michigan State University College of Law.